Title: Hurdle of financial inclusion: a pragmatic enquiry from slum-dwellers perspective

Authors: Biswajit Prasad Chhatoi

Addresses: Department of Business Administration, Berhampur University, Berhampur, Odisha – 760007, India

Abstract: The current study examines the causes of the non-accessibility accounts by the beneficiaries. The respondents are the beneficiaries of PMDJY limited to the geographical scope of Rourkela city. Out of nine hundred seventeen scrutinised account holders who opened bank accounts before 2016, 220 account holders were targeted randomly as the respondents. By administrating a close-ended questionnaire, the causes of the non-accessibility of bank accounts have been collected. The interviews are conducted during the evening as the respondents are slum dwellers engaged in income-generating activities during the daytime. A 'Basic Savings Bank Deposit account' cannot ensure and enhance banking participation. The increased supply of banking facilities will gradually strengthen the demand and use of the facilities. To achieve complete financial inclusion and ensure active participation, the banks must enhance their banking infrastructure, product awareness, financial literacy, and technological literacy among the beneficiaries.

Keywords: PMJDY; financial inclusion; financial literacy; banking infrastructure; product awareness.

DOI: 10.1504/IJICBM.2025.150428

International Journal of Indian Culture and Business Management, 2025 Vol.36 No.4, pp.507 - 520

Received: 23 Sep 2023
Accepted: 29 Nov 2023
Published online: 13 Dec 2025 *

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